THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



House-Martin. Delkhon urbica (Linn.). 



The European range of the House-Martin (Plate 102) roughly 

 corresponds with that of the Swallow, and it winters in tropical 

 Africa. In the British Isles it is a bird of passage and a 

 summer visitor, common in most parts, but more local than the 

 Swallow in northern Scotland and in Ireland. 



The white rump of the House-Martin, very noticeable in 

 flight, should prevent confusion with either the Swallow or Sand- 

 Martin, but we frequently hear people talk of the " Swallows " 

 that build under the eaves of their houses. A few days, even 

 ten or more, after the Swallows reach us we see the first 

 Martins, but it is often late in April before distribution is 

 general. They travel with the later waves of incoming 

 Swallows, and like them seldom go straight to the nesting 

 sites, but hunt for food over large waters and roost in reeds 

 and withies. Nevertheless the bird is just as constant in 

 returning to its old haunts, repairing the nest it built the year 

 before, or making a new one close to the one in which it was 

 reared. Though it travels, both in spring and autumn, with 

 the Swallow, its haunts differ slightly ; it is more a bird of the 

 dwelling house than the outbuilding. It is a cheerful bird ; 

 during the whole of its stay it constantly utters its chirrupy little 

 song, a sibilant twitter with a sound of " z " in it ; its call is a 

 lively tchiriip. Its food, and many of its habits, except those 

 connected with nesting, are similar to those of the Swallow ; it 

 alights more frequently, and, often aiding progression with uplifted 

 wings, will walk a few steps when collecting mud or feeding. 



Undoubtedly the House-Martin, before it found man pro- 

 viding shelter in the shape of overhanging eaves, was a cliff and 

 cave dweller. Many large colonies of cliff-nesting Martins still 

 exist — for instance in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and on the sea 

 cliffs of Anglesey, where also a few nest in caves. Standing on 



